Have Tent, Will Shelter

So, my Coleman Hooligan 2 person tent arrived on Saturday, but I worked all day  (insert Sadface here).  I worked all day Sunday as well, but I was home in time to set up my tent and start testing it out.

Let me just say that it has been hot and humid here, so much so that by the time I was finished setting it up, I was soaked head to foot in sweat.  As a friend of mine said, people pay good money for sauna treatments, and here you are, getting yours for free.  I guess she has a point LOL!

The Hooligan 2 is easy to set up, but it is not free standing, which is a pity.  It is also very heavy, weighing in at 7 pounds for the fly, tent, poles and stakes.  If you think that the average weight load for a backpacker is supposed to only be 25% of their body weight, and they say you shouldn't go over 30 to 35 pounds for normal packing, then you begin to see that this tent takes up a LOT of your weight allotment.  In fact, just the Big Four (shelter,sleeping pad, sleeping bag and pack), will take up a LOT of your 30 to 35 pounds with this tent.  My camp kitchen is 3 pounds.  I think the 40 liter pack I was given is about 4 pounds.  Already we are up to 14 pounds, and that isn't including water, food, navigation or extra clothing.  Add in another 4 pounds for sleeping bag and pad, and we are at 18 pounds.

So that leaves 10 to 15 pounds for everything else.  Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon, and you should drink half a gallon of water per day if you are sedentary, working in a climate controlled area and otherwise just doing what  you usually will be doing on a normal, daily basis.  BUT, and this is a HUGE one ... if you are involved in anything that requires you to work hard and sweat outside, you have to replace that water.  Depending on activity level, you can rely on at LEAST doubling that amount PER DAY.

I know when I was climbing in Veedauwoo, I would take a one liter nalgene bottle full of water and that would be good for the morning, then I would have to refill it for lunch and then again around 3.  And my body needed ALL THREE LITERS while on the rock.  I drank more when I got home, so I know I went well past the half gallon mark.  I anticipate at least that much water consumption - from half a liter per hour to a liter per hour - on the trail, so that's quite a lot.  1 liter of water weighs approximately 2.2 pounds.

So, 18 pounds of gear already, and that's just the basics.  Add in a 2 liter Hydration pack, and let's just say full, it weighs 5 pounds with water and all accoutrements to make the thing work.  23 pounds of stuff and I am only carrying at top total of 30 pounds - because while I might weigh over 200 pounds, I'm only 5'1" and not stronger than a woman weighing 115 pounds.

I have 7 pounds available to pack food, clothing, navigation, sanitation supplies, and any emergency extras.  Now, if I have a partner that can take half this tent or will pack the kitchen and their own kitchen too, I've freed up 3 to 4 pounds.

BUT if I decide to do some solo trekking - I really need to come up with a much lighter alternative, because packing a 7 pound shelter is crazy.  A hammock is sounding better and better!  A hammock, bug screen and tarp shouldn't weigh more than around 4 pounds total for all three, and quite likely less.

Hmm.  I've really gone off on a tangent here.  I will talk more about this tent in another post.

Thanks for reading  :)